The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-01-15
The Cecil EarIuerS Cluh.

The regular monthly meeting Of the Cecil
Farmers Club, met on Thursday at NV God
lands near Perryville, the homestead of
Joseph Condon, Esq. Nine members OF the
rIub We're present, Joseph Coudon, Samuel
Ii. Carson, j. =. Wilson, Adam Il. Magraw,
Stephen c. Magraw, John Ewing, Aaron j.
Michiner, Enoch Noyes and Thomas G.
| Bond. The visitors were Messrs. 5. Archer,
Geo. w Sutton, +. +. Ewing, +. W. Jones
and H. k Torbert, of THE WING.
In the absence of the president Mr. II. ii.
DuycSiuck, Mr.. Jos. Coudon vice president
presided, taking the chair at two minutes
before II o'clock. Thos G, Bond secretary
then read the minutes of tho last meeting
which were approved without objection.
| There being unfinished business before
the club reports OF experiments were called
for. There being none the Host himself
being the eSsayist for this meeting, sub
miSted the following outline of a few ideas
upon THE former, the useful but much
looked down upon member Of society
Mr.. Coudou thought that the lack Of rec
ognition of farmers a. a class was largely
81 ue TO themselves. Every OLueT luuustiy
seemed by common consent to require edu-
cation and training. But any man of ordl-
nary intelligence could become = farmer.
| He Thought the opposite was the case, that
possibly there was no occupation or calling
hich required more industry, tact and
good business Judgment While opposed
upon general principles 10 aggressive COM
biuatIons, yet he thought farmers should
organize in order to secure proper recogni-
| ton of their rights as producers. Other I'M
portaut Industries had their representatives
in the national Congress, and in the Senate,
but rarely 4 representative Of the agricul-
tural classes.
Criticisms being in order, Mr.. John 5.
Ewing thought that organic alton was NEG
essary for the proper recognition of the in
teresIs of farmers as = class. Every other
interest had combinations. and they should
protect their interests by seeking to have
themselves represented in Legislatures and
in Congress.
Mr.. Adam r. Magraw said that although
! farmers class were the equals Of any
other class in in religence and tact, yet far
| mers were not represented because they
We're too willing to follow political leaders.
| rather Than select leaders of their own. In
| Cecil county he believed that ia Xation could
be modified if the farmers OF the county
would organize TO that end. Farmers were
too frequently treated as fellows with
hay seed in their hair. He humorously
said that let them dress as they would city
sharpers could generally detect them AS
being from the country. While their i'm
portancs as producers WAS recognized, yet
there was an evident lack of recognition of
their interests in all representative bodies.
Mr. Aaron j. Kitchener didn't care if he
| had hay seed i'll his hair. IL was All honor
able evidence OF his calling. man should
dress for his work He claimed it As an
honorable calling. and the mere matter of
| the farmers dress or manner did not dctract
from its dignity, As the leading and most
| honorable calling among men. He felt it
to be To his credit to be producer. That
he was benetttiLg his fellou if by his
labor he was making to-day blade of grass
! grow where none grew yesterday.
Mr.. 5. X. Carson said if all farmers were
as bald himself they would not provoke
! the criticism of their city friends by carry
| ing hay seed in their hair, While farmers
needed legislation, he had some doubt ABOUT
class legislation. Legislation shonld be for
the good of ali classes, and in which all
, should share.
! ). Il. Magraw said that if he was taken
! for 4 rpuutryua n the he al ~ had
good opportunity to rstaliate upon city
people when they came into the country.
| Combination was difficult among farmers
because MANY of them were poor and
were compelled to sell their crops, and
could not wait for the results Of com bina-
tons.
Mr.. Thos c. Bond thought the farmers
occupation the most honorable one And
it = man be a good farmer, no man could
occupy more enviahle position, Or follow
a more creditahle calling.
Mr.. John +. Wilson thought that through
farmers cluts and similar organizations,
their interests might he promoted. He
thought it true that the agricultural inter- |
terests were too often overlooked, and that
they needed IN many Instances more legis- |
latiuu directly i'll their line, but he believed
they could iakr care of their own interests
if they were not antagonized by other IN
du-tria Interests.
Mr.. Z. Soyes thought the essay too |
short. The standing of tho Individual far |
mer depended upon the man. 1t a farmer |
didn't comb his hair he would he ostracised |
in good society. So would the representa-
tive OF any other industry. a ragged man |
would not b. admitted into a palace car on |
a railroad. Not because he WAS a farmer |
hut because he wa. ragged. This far some
thing does depend on suitable dress in the |
world. In a political sense the farmer is in !
the back ground. The majority is combined |
against him in Maryland At least. In Kan
sas, Iowa and tho territories this is not the |
case. The farmers there are power be- |
cause they are combined as a class. But |
with all the railroad monopoly in the West
the Rates of railroad tariffs are worse
against the farmer in the East. They want |
IA class represen natives in Congress They |
want an Interstate commerce bill passed, |
because if the prevailing rates of discrini-
nation East last, the time is fast coming |
when farming will cease to be profitable in
Mary land. IT will only result in his and |
every other farmer east of the Alleshaniss
deciding hat they will do, whether to stop |
growing grain and let their grass grow, or
rent their farms for the best prices they |
could.
MIR. f. w. Jones spoke of the recent
rapid advance in iron, attributable to the |
warllke aspect of affairs in Europe, and
advised all his farmer friends if they needed
machinery to buy il at once
Mr.. Geo. W. Sutton didn't agree with Mr. |
Coudon that the farmer was looked down
upon. He didn't think any calling more
honorable While their city cousins might
band, yet he had NOTICED that they were al
ways ready to visit their country cousins,
and make good long stays.
Adam II. Magraw, acting as president
temporarily, designated John i. Wilson,
Aaron j. Kitchener and y. Il. Carson q COM
mittce TO examine the stock. &c, of their
host.
AT this point the Club adjourned to din
ner. Suffice it to say that it was an elegant
display of generous hospitality. Upon the
re-assembllng of the Club, Mr.. j. z. Wilson
reported the excellent condition of Mr.
Coudon's barns and outbuildings, making